Return to Black Mountain City

"That brat!"

As Andres read the first part of the letter, he could not help but mutter a laughing curse under his breath. But when he reached the end, he was instantly excited.

Resior would lead the Beastmen army in an attack on Black Mountain City!

To Andres, this was an excellent opportunity.

However, war was no game. He still needed to make more preparations—at the very least, gather more information.

Andres left his bedroom, intending to find Fabio.

During his six years in Ironstone Town, he and Fabio had gotten along fairly well.

Andres had little interest in administration. Aside from occasionally guiding those children in their training, he spent most of his time cultivating on his own.

Thus, Fabio had been responsible for most of the affairs of Ironstone Town and Black Iron Castle.

The two did not interfere with each other, so naturally there were no conflicts between them.

Fabio handled everything, big and small, at Black Iron Castle, and he often kept in contact with the Royal Capital. His information was far more up-to-date than Andres's.

Regarding this war between the Oga Kingdom and the Beastmen, Andres felt that Fabio surely knew more.

Fabio's office and living quarters were also inside Black Iron Castle. Lately, he had been utterly overwhelmed.

Fabio had a wife and children in the Royal Capital. After coming to Ironstone Town, unable to bear the loneliness, he had taken a mistress here.

Not long ago, his legal wife had brought the children to Black Iron Castle to visit him. She had not told him beforehand, intending to give him a surprise, but it had turned into a shock instead.

After a chaotic uproar, Fabio had finally managed to settle the family dispute.

Because of that commotion, Fabio had even specifically apologized to Andres.

When Andres found Fabio, the man was holding a quill pen and handling some affairs at his desk.

Upon seeing Andres, Fabio quickly removed his monocle and came over to greet him.

"Baron, what brings you here?"

Andres did not beat around the bush. "Fabio, I heard we're going to war with the Beastmen again?"

"Yes. Miss Inori has already led her forces to Black Mountain City. The Beastmen have dispatched quite a large army this time, with more than one Level Eight powerhouse among them. To deal with them, His Majesty the King placed half the Kingdom Knights under Miss Inori's command."

Andres listened carefully, then asked, "The Beastmen's commander this time is Resior?"

Fabio's expression became somewhat grave. "Yes. That man is one of the Beastmen's great generals on the Noah Continent. Our Oga Kingdom has suffered at his hands several times. But with Miss Inori here, there's no need to fear him."

After confirming once more that Resior was the commander of the Beastmen army, Andres could no longer hold himself back and immediately decided to set out for Black Mountain City.

"Fabio, I'm leaving for Black Mountain City at once. I'll leave things here to you," Andres said.

Fabio was stunned for a moment, then quickly showed a knowing expression.

"Baron, are you worried about Miss Inori? Actually, there's no need to worry too much. The Oga Kingdom has dispatched many experts this time. With Black Mountain City as a fortress, we'll definitely be able to hold back the Beastmen," Fabio said.

Hearing Fabio say this, Andres understood that the man had misunderstood. In others' eyes, he was Inori's most loyal subordinate. If he wanted to go to Black Mountain City now, it surely had to be for Inori.

Andres did not explain. It was a convenient excuse.

"I'm still somewhat worried. With you at Black Iron Castle, nothing will go wrong here. I'll set out today and see if I can be of help to Miss Inori," Andres said.

He immediately packed his luggage and set off.

Aside from several changes of clothes, some dried rations, and water, Andres brought only a Refined Iron Soft Sword.

Warriors who cultivated Wind Element Battle Qi were well suited to using soft swords.

Ironstone Town was filled with blacksmith shops. After arriving here, Andres had asked the finest blacksmith in town to forge this weapon specifically for him.

Andres cut his long hair short, shaved off his beard, mounted a warhorse, and traveled westward. Half a month later, he finally arrived at Black Mountain City.

Six years later, Black Mountain City still looked the same as before, like a black beast crouching between the territories of the Oga Kingdom and the Beastmen.

The Oga Kingdom's army had already arrived at Black Mountain City, and the entire city was on alert.

The moment Andres arrived at the West Gate of Black Mountain City, he was stopped by the guards.

After he explained his identity, one of the guards immediately entered the city to report it. Before long, the soldier returned with a tall, burly man clad in silvery-white armor.

The moment the tall man saw Andres, his eyes lit up. Taking two steps at a time, he passed the soldier and strode quickly toward Andres.

"Captain, it really is you!" the tall man said warmly.

The tall man was named Pat, and he was a member of Inori's guard squad.

Back then, Andres had been the captain of the guard squad, while Pat had been his subordinate.

Seeing Pat, Andres also revealed a faint smile. The two had gotten along fairly well when they worked together in the past.

"Pat, I'm no longer the captain," Andres said with a smile.

"To me, you'll always be the captain!" Pat said sincerely. Then he turned and said a few words to the guards before leading Andres into the city.

"Captain, weren't you in Ironstone Town? Why have you come to Black Mountain City?" Pat asked.

"I heard about the war here, so I came specifically to help Miss Inori," Andres said.

Pat was not surprised to hear that. In his eyes, Andres had always been extremely loyal to Inori.

"Captain, then I'll take you to see Miss Inori first."

The two headed toward Black Mountain City's lord's manor.

Along the way, soldiers on patrol and guard duty could be seen everywhere.

Black Mountain City had originally been built to resist the Beastmen. Normally, the only people living here were the soldiers defending the city and their families, along with a few merchants doing business.

After Inori arrived with her army this time, the proportion of soldiers in the city had reached an astonishing level.

"Captain, the situation this time is even more severe than the one we faced six years ago," Pat said as he led Andres along.

"Besides Commander Resior, the Beastmen have several Level Eight powerhouses. Their army is also larger than in previous wars. This time, they truly intend to breach Black Mountain City."

Pat's expression was grave as he looked at Andres. "Captain, the fighting will be brutal this time. Honestly, you would be better off staying in Ironstone Town."

"It's precisely because the situation is so serious that I came," Andres said, offering no further explanation.

The two entered the lord's manor.

"Captain, Miss Inori is preparing to discuss matters with the other lords. I'll take you there."

To face the Beastmen army this time, the Oga Kingdom had dispatched many important figures besides Inori.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived outside the lord's manor's council hall.

Soldiers stood guard at the entrance. Beside them stood a sharp-eyed, bald middle-aged man, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

"Oh no, it's Gerant!" Pat's expression darkened.